Worldcoin, a controversial project that offers monetary rewards for having your eyeballs scanned, has seen surprising success in Chile and other emerging economies. According to Worldcoin, over 200,000 Chileans have signed up for the project, with individuals receiving 25 WLD tokens (worth roughly $42) for their participation.
The allure of free money seems to be a powerful motivator, especially in countries like Chile where the minimum wage is relatively low. For many individuals, receiving 8% of their monthly wage simply for scanning their eyeballs is too good to pass up. Carlos Santibañez, a 29-year-old Chilean, had his eyeballs scanned out of curiosity and has since earned over $150 in WLD tokens. He also noted that Worldcoin’s data collection is less invasive compared to other companies, which made him more comfortable with participating.
The success of Worldcoin in Chile mirrors its popularity in other emerging economies such as Argentina and Kenya. In Argentina, a country plagued by high inflation rates, the project saw a surge in sign-ups, with one registration every nine seconds at one point. Similarly, Kenya witnessed long lines and over 350,000 registrations before the government intervened and banned Worldcoin’s operations due to privacy concerns.
Remarkably, Worldcoin has not faced significant regulatory pushback in Chile, despite the large number of registrations. The country is known for its economic freedom and thriving tech scene, and it has been at the forefront of AI development in the region. The fact that 1% of the population has signed up for Worldcoin has surprised some observers, who find it interesting that the public initially views the crypto world as a scam but eagerly lines up for a chance to receive free money.
Francisco DÃaz, a Chilean anthropologist who studies decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), believes that Worldcoin’s success in Chile can be attributed to the economic incentive it offers. He also notes that the monetary rewards from Worldcoin are not insignificant considering the country’s minimum wage. DÃaz has been actively involved in talentDAO, a research collective exploring the workings of DAOs and their potential benefits.
While Worldcoin’s project raises concerns about privacy and the implications of monetizing personal data, some individuals see it as an opportunity to profit from their information, especially in countries with lower wages. Whether Worldcoin’s success will continue or face opposition from regulators and privacy advocates remains to be seen, but for now, the shiny orbs outside metro stations in Chile continue to attract a steady stream of participants eager to collect their WLD tokens.
